Meet Your Instructors
Michael and Andrea Zimmerman first met in 2011 while playing in a band together, discovering a shared love for music, creativity, and collaboration. In 2013, Michael joined Andrea at AJ’s Music Factory, and together they began building a contemporary music school rooted in fun, personalized instruction for piano, voice, ukulele, and guitar students of all ages.
As partners in both life and work, Michael and Andrea genuinely enjoy teaching side by side and bringing the joy of music to students and families in their community. Their combined energy, creativity, and commitment to student growth have become the heart of AJ’s Music Factory.
Outside the studio, they’re passionate travelers and love exploring the world together. They’ve visited four continents so far, with their most recent adventure taking them on an unforgettable safari in Kenya. They also hold a special place in their hearts for Europe and Australia—and are always dreaming up their next destination.
Andrea Zimmerman
Andrea Zimmerman created AJ’s Music Factory in May 2012 and is currently an instructor of piano and voice. She has been teaching private lessons since 2002 and is passionate about instilling a love of music and creativity in her students that will enrich their lives.
Andrea brings a fresh, creative energy to her piano and voice lessons while maintaining the structure that young musicians need to thrive. Her teaching style is joyful and imaginative, filled with games, off-bench activities, and age-appropriate challenges that keep students engaged and excited to learn.
From Beethoven to the Beatles to the beats on their own playlists, Andrea helps students build strong skills while sampling sounds from every corner of the musical map. Her goal is to develop confident, curious musicians who can read music, understand theory, express themselves, and fall in love with making music.
Andrea studied music education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and received Bachelor of Music degrees in both piano performance and vocal performance from McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN. Andrea also has background in music business and publishing having worked at ASCAP Nashville (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and Big Loud Shirt Publishing in Nashville, TN.
Andrea is the Director of Contemporary Worship Arts at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, MN. She also performs in multiple bands in the Twin Cities area.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael has been teaching guitar and ukulele for 20+ years and joined AJ’s Music Factory in January 2013. Michael is passionate about helping each student—whether child, teen, or adult—discover their own unique musical voice. He specializes in creating highly personalized lesson plans that align with each student’s interests, goals, and learning style. His ability to connect with learners of all ages makes the process both inspiring and fun—ensuring that students not only stick with music but love the journey.
Michael is a former member of The Kurt Jorgensen Band based out of St. Paul, MN and has previously worked in bands such as The Michael Shane Band, Tongue ‘n’ Groove and The Daily Grind. He has been an opening act for national acts such as Little River Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Guess Who, America, STYX, and Joe Cocker. Michael currently plays guitar and percussion at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, MN.
Michael Zimmerman’s studies have included music performance with emphasis on guitar at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, IA and Waldorf College in Forest City, IA. He also studied at Brown Institute of Minneapolis, MN where he earned an A.A. Degree in Electronics and Audio Recording.
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out with any questions about music lessons for you or your child.